After the shock with the INSS crisis, PT gets closer to the PDT and forwards an agreement to Lula

PT’s national president, Edinho Silva, has been looking for PDT leaders to forge alliances in three states considered priorities by the party. The movement seeks to renew the partnership between the two acronyms in the 2026 election, after a period of shock with the dismissal of the PDT president, Carlos Lupi, from the Ministry of Social Security, amid the INSS scandal.

In a sign that the relationship was shaken after the case, in the first half of the year, the PDT bench in the Chamber even announced its departure from the Lula government base. Despite this, Lupi’s interlocutors consider support for Lula’s re-election to be on track. The parties are moving separately, however, in Minas, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, three states seen as strategic by Pedetistas.

For the Gaucho government, the PDT announced the pre-candidacy of former state deputy Juliana Brizola, granddaughter of former governor Leonel Brizola. The PT prioritizes launching the current president of the National Supply Company (Conab), Edegar Pretto.

At an event in the state, Edinho said that he would seek “broad dialogue” with the pedetista and that he recognizes “her political strength”. Pretto’s allies, in turn, deny that he will give up his candidacy. The hypothesis of a ticket with PT and PDT also comes up against the insistence of both sides to lead the alliance.

— There is no chance of Juliana as vice-president. We hope for reciprocity, as we will support the PT in Bahia, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, we will be together in most states. We hope for this recognition — says Lupi.

The negotiations also target the PT’s support for Alexandre Kalil, recently affiliated to the PDT, for the government of Minas; and Requião Filho, state deputy and PDT pre-candidate for the government of Paraná.

In Minas, the chances of an agreement increased after the PSD, the party of senator Rodrigo Pacheco, affiliated vice-governor Mateus Simões, an opponent of the PT.

Pacheco is still Lula’s preferred name to head his platform in the state, but he has said that he does not intend to run for office, and the need to change parties to run makes this hypothesis even more remote.

In addition to talking to Kalil — former mayor of Belo Horizonte and who has already been supported by Lula in 2022 —, the PT is evaluating a composition in which the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, runs for the Senate. He is also currently affiliated with the PSD, the same party as Pacheco.

Edinho has been articulating an alliance around Kalil, but there is resistance in the PT leadership in Minas. A wing of the party defends composing with other names, such as the president of the Legislative Assembly of Minas, Tadeu Leite (MDB), or former senator Clésio Andrade (PSB).

In Paraná, Requião Filho announced last week an agreement with PT member Enio Verri, current president of Itaipu Binacional, for the 2026 elections. The idea is for Verri to occupy one of the two Senate seats on the ticket, and for the PT member to run for government. Requião Filho was affiliated with the PT until the beginning of this year, but he and his father, former governor Roberto Requião, left the party amid friction with the national leadership.

As O GLOBO reported last Thursday, there are still ongoing conversations to accommodate another wing of the Paraná PT, led by deputy Zeca Dirceu, on the ticket.

When contacted by the report, Edinho Silva did not return contact.

Internal raids

The creation of the alliance with the PT caused, in the PDT, the disaffiliation of former minister Ciro Gomes, who preferred to remain in opposition to Lula’s party in Ceará.

Ciro was also critical of what he called the “frying” of Lupi, president of the PDT, after the INSS crisis. Although he was not among those investigated by the Federal Police, which is investigating a scheme of fraudulent discounts on pensions, Lupi suffered wear and tear for having nominated the former director of the INSS, Alessandro Stefanutto, arrested this month by the PF on suspicion of receiving bribes.

Understand disputes by state

Rio Grande do Sul – The PDT launched former deputy Juliana Brizola, granddaughter of Leonel Brizola, as a pre-candidate for government, and rules out giving up the head of the ticket in an alliance with the PT — which, in turn, does not give up on having the president of Conab, Edegar Pretto, as a candidate for governor.

Minas Gerais – Newly affiliated with the PDT, Alexandre Kalil has already received a positive signal from PT president, Edinho Silva, for an alliance. There is resistance, however, in the PT directory in Minas, which prefers other compositions. Lula has already shown a preference for supporting Rodrigo Pacheco, who denies being a candidate.

Paraná – Last week, PED member Requião Filho — who left the PT in a fight at the beginning of the year — announced an agreement with Enio Verri (PT), who should be the Senate candidate on his ticket. There are still ongoing conversations to try to accommodate another wing of the state PT, led by Zeca Dirceu.